Valero Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) available for download

By Roger Straw    June 17, 2014   The Benicia Independent
The City of Benicia posted the downloadable version of the Valero Crude By Rail Draft EIR this morning. The print and digital copies will be made available at the Benicia Planning Department later in the day.

We now have just 45 days to study this document and submit our thoughts, questions and critiques. These 45 days will be split into two segments:
We have 24 days between today and the Planning Commission hearing on July 10.
The remaining 21 day period following the public hearing might be extended for further study and comment. If not, the clock will stop on July 30.

We have petitioned the City for an extension to a total of 90 days. We hope the Planning Commissioners will also want more time, and will support our request.

Send your thoughts to the City of Benicia – You can make a difference! Ask questions and voice your concerns to the Planning Commission, City staff and our Mayor and City Council. (Note: When writing to the City Manager and Principal Planner, it helps to open with the phrase, “Please add my comments to the public legal record on Valero’s Crude By Rail Project and incorporate them as part of the review of its DEIR.“)

Send your comments to:
Brad Kilger, City Manager, by email: bkilger@ci.benicia.ca.us AND
Amy Million, Principal Planner, Community Development Department, by email: amillion@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Both may also be contacted by delivery to 250 East L Street, Benicia, CA 94510, or by Fax: (707) 747-1637.
To direct email to Planning Commissioners, send email to Amy Million, requesting her to forward on to Planning Commissioners.
Send your thoughts to the news media:
Benicia Herald, 820 First St, Benicia, CA 94510, or by email to Editor Marc Ethier, beniciaherald@gmail.com AND
Vallejo Times-Herald, P.O. Box 3188, Vallejo, CA 94590, Fax: 643-0128, or by email to Editor Jack Bungart, jbungart@timesheraldonline.com.

Stay tuned, and plan to attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings when Valero Crude By Rail comes up on the agenda. The formal hearing will be at the Planning Commission’s July 10 meeting, 7pm, City Hall. BE THERE! (Watch for further announcements on the Benicia Independent’s Events page.)

Posted in Danger! Crude-by-Rail | Leave a comment

100 Percent of California Now in Highest Stages of Drought

By Andrea Thompson    May 15th, 2014

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http://www.climatecentral.org/news/california-severe-drought-or-worse-17444

Posted in SF Bay Delta | Leave a comment

Train derailment in Tuscaloosa County

By Jeff Wyatt   Jun 16, 2014

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http://www.abc3340.com/story/25790529/train-derailment-causing-some-homes-to-be-evacuated-near-buhl-in-tuscaloosa-county

Posted in Danger! Crude-by-Rail | Leave a comment

States balk at keeping oil-train info from public

By MATTHEW BROWN    SF Chronicle   JUNE 5, 2014

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http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/us/article/States-balk-at-keeping-oil-train-info-from-public-5531988.php

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Details about crude oil rail shipments shrouded in secrecy

By Tony Bizjak and Curtis Tate   Sacto Bee    Sunday, Jun. 15, 2014

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“Trains carrying a potentially more flammable crude oil have begun rolling with little notice through Sacramento and California in the last year, prompting concerns about safety and calls for more transparency, but state officials said Friday they have decided for now not to release information to the public on where those trains run or how many there are.”

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/15/6484075/details-about-crude-oil-rail-shipments.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/15/6484075/details-about-crude-oil-rail-shipments.html#storylink=cpy

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Report on Healing Walk #3 – Benicia to Rodeo

Our third Connect the Dots Healing walk was a big success! Idle No More led the way as 50-60 concerned citizens walked over 14 miles from Benicia all the way to Rodeo. Composed of walkers both young and old, bicyclists, kayaks, dogs, and one horse, most carried hand painted banners, signs, or flags. It was a beautiful sunny day. Speakers included Pennie Opal Plant of Idle No More, Marilyn Bardet and Andres Soto of Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, and Ann Puntch of Crockett-Rodeo United to Defend the Environment (CRUDE).
The final 2014 Healing Walk from Rodeo to Richmond will take place on July 12th. More information will be posted soon at connectthedotshealingjourneys.org . Thanks so much to everyone involved!

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Posted in Bakken Crude, Climate Change, Danger! Crude-by-Rail, Featured Events, Fracking, Ocean Acidification, Refineries, Renewables, Sea Level Rise, SF Bay Delta, Shell, Tar Sands, Tesoro | Leave a comment

Martinez Environmental Group: Schools, pipelines & trains

By James Neu    Martinez Gazette    June 12, 2014

http://martinezgazette.com/archives/15306

Posted in Danger! Crude-by-Rail, Health, Martinez Gazette Column, Refineries, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

ACWA Drought Action Group Report in Water Supply Challenges

The Association of CA Water Agencies has released a report detailing specific impacts of the drought around the state and underscoring the need for a variety of strategies and actions to improve the resiliency of the state’s water system.
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http://www.acwa.com/sites/default/files/post/water-supply-challenges/2014/06/final-drought-action-report.pdf

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Americans by 2 to 1 Would Pay More to Curb Climate Change

By Lisa Lerer    Bloomberg    Jun 10, 2014

“While Republicans were split, with 46 % willing to pay more and 49 % opposed to it, 82 % of Democrats and 60 % of independents say they’d accept higher bills.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-10/americans-by-2-to-1-would-pay-more-to-curb-climate-change.html

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John Kerry launches global effort to save world’s oceans ‘under siege’

US secretary of state hoping to build momentum for protection effort at two-day State Department summit on 16-17 June
By Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent, The Guardian    11 June 2014 
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http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/11/john-kerry-ocean-conservation-summit

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